中國再次向俄羅斯購買先進武器
Russia has restarted sales of its advanced weapons to China for the first time since it virtually suspended all transactions.
俄羅斯重新啓動了對華先進武器銷售，這是2004年以來的首次。
In 2004, amid concerns that Beijing would copy Moscow’s technology.
2004年，因擔心中國會複製俄技術，俄實際上暫停了一切對華武器交易。
Japanese government officials fear that Russia’s move could destabilise the delicate security situation in the region.
日本政府官員擔心，俄此次武器銷售可能會令該地區微妙的安全局勢變得動盪起來。
China and Russia agreed this week that Beijing will buy 24 advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, four of which will be delivered by new year.
中俄上週達成協議，中方將購買24架先進的蘇-35 (Sukhoi Su-35)戰鬥機，其中4架將在新年到來之前交貨。
The other aircraft, according to the $2bn deal, will be with China within three years.
根據這項價值20億美元的協議，其餘的飛機將在三年內交到中方手中。
Russia has also agreed to deliver its S-400 anti-aircraft missile system as soon as 2018.
俄還答應最早在2018年時向中方提供俄S-400防空導彈系統。
The Su-35 is an advanced Russian stealth combat fighter, with enhanced avionics and a longer-range flight capability.
蘇-35是一款先進的具有一定隱形能力的俄製戰鬥機，配備增強的航電系統，具備較遠程的飛行能力。
It is capable of aerial combat and striking ground and maritime targets.
該機既可用於空中格鬥，也可用於打擊地面及海上目標。
No Asian nation is yet using such advanced fighters.
目前，亞洲還沒有哪個國家在使用此類先進的戰鬥機。
Japan’s mainstay fighter, for example, is the fourth-generation US-made F-15.
舉例來說，日本的主流戰鬥機是美製第四代戰鬥機F-15。
Japan plans to buy 42 more sophisticated F-35 fighters from the US by 2024.
日本打算在2024年以前再從美國購買42架先進的F-35戰鬥機。
Once Beijing has access to the Su-35, however, the military balance is likely to be in China’s favour in the medium term, given that Beijing’s military budget is about three times that of Tokyo.
然而，一旦中國能夠獲得蘇35，考慮到中國的軍事預算約爲日本的三倍，中期內中日兩國間的軍事平衡很可能會向中方傾斜。
China’s new, advanced weapons are likely to give it air supremacy in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
中國的新型先進武器很可能會爲其在東中國海和南中國海帶來空中優勢。
In 2013 it imposed an air defence identification zone (Adiz) in the East China Sea
2013年，中國在東中國海劃設了防空識別區(Adiz)。
and has since required that all aircraft identify themselves.
自那以來，中國一直要求所有飛經該識別區的飛機申報自己的身份。
Officials in Japan and the US are concerned that the next move could be to impose an Adiz in the South China Sea.
日美兩國官員擔心，中國下一步或將在南中國海劃設防空識別區。
The Su-35s will enhance China’s ability to patrol these air spaces.
蘇-35將增強中國在這些空域的巡邏能力。
As for the S-400 sales deal, its implications for the balance of military power could be even more serious.
而俄中S-400軍售交易對軍事力量平衡的影響可能更加嚴重。
This anti-aircraft missile system has a 400km range and can hit targets flying as high as 31,000m.
這種防空導彈系統的射程達400公里，可打擊飛行高度最高達3.1萬米的目標。
According to the Russian producer of the S-400, it is capable of hitting up to 36 targets simultaneously, not only aircraft but also intercontinental missiles.
按照S-400俄羅斯生產商的說法，該系統能夠同時打擊最多36個目標，不僅可以打擊飛機，還可以攔截洲際導彈。
China already owns the older S-300 system, which covers only as far as parts of Taiwan.
中國已經擁有了S-300這一較早期的系統，該系統最遠只能覆蓋臺灣島的一部分。
The S-400 will allow it to strike any target in Taiwanese airspace and reach targets as far away as New Delhi.
S-400系統則令中國可以打擊臺灣空域的任何目標，並可打擊遠至新德里的目標。
The Taiwan Strait is a potential flashpoint
臺灣海峽是一個潛在的引爆點。
and Beijing has maintained its claim on Taiwan since the Chinese civil war ended in1949.
自1949年中國內戰結束以來，北京方面一直主張對臺灣擁有主權。
China’s rapid military development means the balance in the Taiwan Strait is already in its favour.
中國軍力的迅速發展意味着，臺灣海峽的均勢已經向有利於北京的一方傾斜。
The risk is that the sale of the S-400 will make China more assertive.
向中國出售S-400可能會令中國變得愈發強硬。
